Column for metal buildings



Feb. 4, 1941. c, HENNlNG 2,230,247

COLUMN FOR METAL BUILDINGS Filed Jan.' 28, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 42 F710. Z7 INVENTOR Carl Hamming ATTORNEY Feb. 4, 1941.

C. HENNING COLUMN FOR METAL BUILDINGS 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed Jan. 28,1939 INVENTOR Cari Hamming ATTQRN EY Patented F eb. 4, 1941 PATENTOFFICE COLUMN FOR METAL BUILDINGS Carl Henning, Kansas City, Mo.,assignor to Andrew A. Kramer, Kansas City, Mo.

Application January 28, 1939, Serial No. 253,371

20 Claims.

My invention relates to metallic building structures, and moreparticularly to a wall construction for metal houses, comprisingbox-like columns such as described in my co-pending application SerialNo. 237,249, filed October 27, 1938, on Wall construction for metalhouses, of which this application is a continuation'in part.

My invention relates to walls for metal buildings, comprising Wallpanels and columns alternating with said wall panels, said wall panelsand columns being made of sheet metal, and interlocking so as to hold(the wall panels and columns in properly aligned position relative toeach other.

It is a particular purpose of my invention to provide, in a wallconstruction for metal buildings of the above mentioned character, newand improved sheet metal hollow column members that are so constructedas to provide a good appearance for both the inner and outer sides ofthe wall and prevent any structure of undesirable appearance on the wallpanels from being visible, and which interlock with said wall panels insuch a manner as to provide a wall that is held in proper alignment andis of fixed length between the corner columns at the corners of thebuilding.

It is a further purpose of my invention to provide, in a metallicbuilding wall structure of the above mentioned character, columnsthatcooperate with locking members in the form of top members, which alsoserve as eaves members, to hold said columns and the wall panels betweenthe columns in interlocking relationship, said columns being providedwith means for-clamping said top locking members to said columns, tohold the same firmly interlocked therewith.

It is a further purpose of my invention to provide new-and improvedcorner columns for sheet metal buildings of the above mentionedcharacter, which are provided with means for receiving wall panelmembers in interlocking engagement therewith, to fix said wall panelmembers from any movement longitudinally of the wall relative to saidcorner columns, and which are provided with means interlocking withlongitudinal top locking members to hold said columns from any verticalmovement relative to the wall panel members, and to further provide suchnew and improved corner columns with means for securing a gable memberthereto in such a manner as to provide a good appearance to thebuilding.

It is still a further purpose of my invention to provide a new andimproved intermediate column for a sheet metal building of the abovementioned character, which is provided with means for receiving a wallpanel member and a top lockingmember, so as to properlyalign saidintermediate columns and said wall panel members and prevent anyrelative movement thereof, said intermediate columns being soconstructed that the same are adapted to either mount a partition membertherein, so as to support the same at its junction with the wall ofwhich the intermediate column is a part, or which may be so constructedthat the partition mounting may be omitted without causing anyunsightliness to exist in the finish of the inner face of the wall atsaid intermediate column.

It isstill a further purpose of my invention to provide hollow sheetmetal columns that are so constructed that the same can be filled withinsulating material, if this is desired, being so constructed andarranged that insulating board members can be inserted in said columns,so as (to insulate the same throughout, if this is desired, or so thatthe insulating members can be omitted, if this is preferred, a dead airspace being provided in each of said columns for insulating purposes, ifinsulating board or similar insulating material is not desired.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as thedescription of the drawings proceeds. I desire to have it understood,however, that I do not intend to limit myself to the particular detailsshown or described, except as defined in the claims.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of one of myimproved corner columns, as viewed from the plane indicated by the linell of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the column shown in Fig. 1, on asomewhat larger scale than Fig. 1, showing a fragment of a wall panelassociated therewith in section.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, through a corner column at theopposite end of the gable portion of the house from that at which thecolumn shown in Fig. 2 is utilized, on an enlarged scale. 4

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the bottom end portion ofthe column shown in Fig.

l, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of an improved intermediate columnmade in accordance with my invention, as viewed from a plane indicatedby the line 5-5 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section through the column shown in'Fig. 5 on anenlarged scale, showwhat enlarged scale, taken on the line |0 l0- ofFig. 1, and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary vertical section of the upper end portion of amodified form of intermediate column.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in FigsQI to 4, inclusive, is shownone of my improved-corner columns, which comprises an outer wall made;preferably, of a single sheet of material, and

made up of two wall portions I 0, which extend at right angles to eachother, said outer wall being bent at right angles at H, so as to formtwo' portions that extend perpendicularly to each other. Said cornercolumns further comprise two inner wall portions l2 that extend at rightangles to the outer wall portions I0, having flanges I3 that are,preferably, welded to theinner faces of the outer wall portions I0 toform a box-like hollow metal column that is substan-' tially rectangularin cross section. The wall portions l0 extend a considerable distancebeyond the junction of the wall portions I2 therewith, thus forming widelateral flanges, or wings, on the corner columns that extend laterallyfrom the box-like body portion thereof in the directions in which thewalls extend from said corner column.

Each of the wall portions I0 is provided with an inwardly directedflange l4, extending perpendicularly to the main body portion of thewall portion I 0, and which terminates in a flange [5, extendinginwardly toward the box-like body portion of the corner column andparallel to the wall portion ID, on which said flange is formed. Aflange, projecting inwardly from the wall portion, angular in crosssection is thus (formed on each, of the lateral flanges, or wingrportions, formed by the portions of the walls I 0 extending beyond thewalls l2. The wall portions l2 have flanges l6 extending therefrom ratthe edges thereof that are opposite those having the flanges l3, saidflanges l6 extending in the same direction as the flanges l 3 and beingperpendicular to the wall portions l2 to thus provide two inwardlyprojecting flanges l6 that are perpendicular :to each other. A securingmember IT, in the form of a clip, angular in cross section, and havinghook-like end portions 18 thereon, formed by bending back portions ofthe member on itself, engages the flanges I6 on the wall portions I2 ofthe corner column to firmly secure the same together. The angular clipmember I! not only serves as a connecting member, but also as afinishing, or trim, strip, being of a length equal to the height of thewall panel, and thus providing a corner finish at the junction of thewall panels with the corner column, as well as securing the walls I 2 ofthe corner column together. The

engagement of the clip-like member I! with the flanges I6 isaccomplished by a longitudinal sliding movement of the member I!relative to the corner'column in a vertical direction.

The wall panels shown are hollow members and are the same as shown in myapplication Serial No. 237,249, of which this is a continuation in part.The same have an outer sheet metal wall I 9, which is provided with amarginal flange 20, which is outwardly offset at 2|, and has a portion22 extending parallel to the portion 20 and terminates in an inwardlydirected flange 23 providing a groove in which the inner wall ofinsulating board 24 is mounted. A clip 25, outwardly offset ,at 26 toreceive theedge of the flange I5, is also .provided on eachwall panelmember.

ner column are received between the outwardly offset portions 26 of theyclips 25 and the outer metallicwa-lls 19 of the wall panel members, and

the portions 22 of the flanges 20 on said Wall panels engage, on theirouter faces, flatly against I the walls l2 of the corner columns. Thusthe wall panels and the corner columns are firmly secured to each otherso that there can be no relative movement thereof lengthwise of the wallpanel members. j It will be noted that all Of the securing elements forfastening the corner columns and wall panel members together are hiddenby the structure described, due to the wing portions on the outer walls10 that overlap the portions of the wall panel members having thesecuring means thereon. Also it will be noted that the comer columnshave the outer Walls I0 thereof offset outwardly, a distancedependentupon the width of the flange M, from the outer walls [9 of thewall panel members. By providing the extending portions on the walls Illthat form said wing portions, a massive appearance is given to thecorner columns. Also any offsets and other parts of objectionableappearanceon the wall panels are hidden thereby and a joint of goodappearance is provided on the exterior of the wall betw'eenthe cornercolumn and the wall panel member.

The corner column is provided with a bottom Wall 21 extending betweenthe walls l2 and the walls l0 and secured thereto by Welding, or in asimilar manner, to provide a closed bottom for the box-like hollow bodyportion of the corner column except for an opening 28 therein, throughwhich a securing element may be extended for mounting the corner columnon the foundation provided for the building.

The upper end of the corner column is shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 10. .Saidcorner columns must be made in the form of rights and lefts, because ofthe formation of the top part of each corner column. In Fig. 1 thecolumn that would be located at the corner illustrated in Fig. 2 isshown, while in Fig. 3 the corner column that is made of reverseconstruction, which is on the w chamber within said corner column, ifthis is desired. Said transverse top wall extends from the top of thewall l0, extending perpendicularly to the wall I2 provided with the cutout portion 29, and has a portion 30 extending substantiallyhorizontally inwardly from the top of said wall l0, adownwardlyextending vertical wall portion 3| depending from the horizontallyextending portion 30, a transversely extending portion 32 depressedbelow the portion 30 and extending horizontally from the bottom edge ofthe vertical portion 3|, a vertically extending portion 33 extendingupwardly from the horizontally extending portion 32, which is the sameheight as the portion 3!, and a horizontal wall portion 34 extendingfrom the top edge of the portion 33 to the top of the wall l2 that liesopposite that wall I!) from the top of which the portion 30 extends. Achannel-shaped portion between the side edges of the top wall of thebox-like body portion of the corner post is thus provided, which forms adeep, wide groove in the top of said corner column, extending throughthe one wall I2 having the notch 29 therein and to the upward extension35 of the wall 10 opposite the wall 12 that has said notch, or cut awayportion, 29 therein.

A U-shaped retaining member 36 is provided, lying within the channelformed within said top wall member and extending upwardly from thebottom wall 32 of said channel. The U-shaped clip 36 is secured to thewall 32, by welding, and the top wall of the box-like body portion ofthe corner column is secured to the walls I0 and [2, by welding. TheU-shaped clip 36 is utilized, in a manner which will be described morein detail in connection with Fig. 8 of the drawings, for securing a topconnecting member, that also serves as an eaves-forming member, to thecor ner column, so as to fix the corner column and wall panel memberagainst relative vertical movement.

The one wall [0 has a Z-bar 31 secured thereto by welding the one flange38 thereof to the inner face of said extension 35. The web portionthereof may be welded to the flange l5 and is provided with openings 42therein for securing a gable member thereto. The upwardly extending wallportion 35, comprising an upward extension of the one wall portion I0,is provided with an obliquely extending top edge portion 33, to which anangle member 40 is welded, to :pr vide means for supporting the roof onthe corner column. The outer edge 4| of the wall portion 35 aligns withthat wall portion I6 that extends perpendicularly to the wall portion 10provided with the extension 35.

The intermediate hollow columns are made up of an outer member having aflat vertical wall portion 44, which has the opposite vertical edgesthereof turned inwardly to formflanges 45, which engage the outer wallsIQ of the wall panel members referred to above. Said intermediate hollowcolumns further include an inner memher having an outer vertical wallportion 46, which engages face to face with the inner surface of theouter wall portion 44, and is welded thereto. A pair of parallelvertical walls 41 extend inwardly from the wall 46 and terminate inoppositely directed, outwardly extending flanges 48, extendingperpendicularly to the portions 41. Said intermediate columns are shownin Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, and as far as described above, the saidintermediate columns shown in Figs. 5, 6, '7 and 8 are exactly the samein construction. Each of said columns has a bottom wall, similar to thebottom wall 21 shown in Fig. 4, to close the bottom end of the box-likebody portion of each column. Said box-like body portion is formed bymeans of the wall portions 46, 41, the bottom wall and a top wall, and aconnecting member connecting the wall portions 41, which differs in thetwo forms of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and Figs. 7 and 8,respectively. In the case of both forms of intermediate columns, thewall portions 22 of the wall panels engage face to face with the wallsi? and the ends of the flanges engage with the outer faces of the wallsl9 of the wall panel members.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the connectingmember comprises a channel-shaped member having a transverse verticalwall portion $8, a pair of parallel wall portions 56 fitting closelywithin the wall portions 41' and terminating in oppositely directedoutwardly extending flanges iii, which terminate in hooklike flanges .2that slidably engage the flanges. 48 at their outer edge portions.Welded to the transverse wall portion 49 of said channel-shapedconnecting member is the transverse wall portion 63 of the partitionmounting member, which has the wall portions 5 extending perpendicularlyto the wall portion 53 and also has wall portions 55 outwardly offset inoposite directions, so to extend away from each other, wall portions 66extending perpendicularly to the wall portions. 55 and. thus offset fromthe wall portions M to provide a wider portion on the partition mountingmember overlapping the flanges 5i partially and terminating in inwardlyextend-' ing flanges 5'7, the free edges of which are spaced from eachother sufficiently to provide a slot in the partition mounting memberfor slidably receiving the partition member 58 of insulating board, orsimilar material, the inner end edge of which is, preferably, inengagement with the transverse wall 53.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is used when apartition member is to be supported by an intermediate column. If nopartition member is to be supported by the intermediate column, the flatconnecting member 59 is provided, which has hook-like flanges 69provided along the opposite vertical side edges thereof, which slidablyengage the outer edges of the flanges 38, just as do the hook-likeflanges 52 on the connecting member of channel shape, as shown in Fig.6. In either form of intermediate column described, the connectingmember acts also as a finishing strip to finish off the intermediatecolumn on its inner side and to cover the flange portion 23 on the wallpanel member.

In both forms of intermediate columns shown, top transverse walls areprovided, that are pro vided with grooves, or channels, therein, similarto that provided in the corner column, as above described. Such a topwall is shown in Fig. 8, and while in said figure the top wall is shownas extending between the walls 46 and 56, it will be obvious that in theform shown in Fig. 6 the top wall will extend between the walls 46 and49. The wall portions 41 are provided with out out portions, or notches,60, similar to the cut out portion, or notch, 29 provided" in the topedge of the wall portion I2 in the corner column, except that in thecase of the intermediate columns, both wall portions 41 are cut out, ornotched, at 66. The wall portions 6| and 62 extend inwardly horizontallyfrom the tops of the wall portions 43 and 56, and from these depend thevertically extending wall portions 63, which are connected by thecentral or depressed horizontal wall portion 64, to thus provide achannel, or groove, in the top wall of the intermediate column runninglengthwise of the wall. The wide groove, or channel, thus formed isadapted to receive the downwardly projecting hollow rib portion 65 of aneaves-forming, or top connecting, member 66, which hasa depressedtransverse bottom wall 6'! provided with an' opening 88 therein, throughwhich the U-shaped clip, or retaining member, 69 extending upwardly fromthe depressed central wall portion 64 of the intermediate columnextends. The top connecting member, which also serves as aneaves-forming member, is clamped rigidly in position against thechanneled top wall of the intermediate column, by means of a wedgingmember H3, and it is of course, to be'understood that the U-shaped clip36 is utilized in a similar manner with such a wedging member to securethe top connecting member to the corner column.

It will be obvious that dead air spaces are provided .in the box-like,hollow body portions of the cornerv and intermediate columns by theconstruction described. However, if desired, the corner columns andintermediate columns can be provided with insulating board memberswithin the box-like body portions thereof, such insulating board membersbeing readily insertable in said box-like members before the clips II,or connecting members 59, or the channel-shaped connecting member 56,are put in place. The manner in which said insulating board members areutilized is shown in Fig. '7, in which a pair of similar insulatingboard members H are shown, mounted within the hollow box-like bodyportion of said intermediate column between the walls 47, 46 and 5 9,and similar insulating board members H are mounted between the wallpanel members and the wing portions, or wide flanges, formed on saidintermediate columns by the extensions of the walls 44 beyond the wallsM. It will be noted that said insulating board members H are mountedbetween the flanges 95 and the walls 47, and it is obvious thatinsulating board members can .be similarly mounted on the cornercolumns, if this is desired.

In Fig. 11 a modified form of intermediate column is shown, in which thewalls 41 are cut out, or notched, at as in the previously describedforms of intermediate columns, but, instead of the entire top end of thebox-like body portion of the column being closed, a cross piece 64',extending between the Walls 41 and resting on and welded to thedepressed top edges of the walls 41 forming the bottoms of the notches60, is provided, which has a U-shaped clip, or retaining member, 69extending upwardly therefrom. The top connecting member is mounted inthe top of this intermediate column in a similar manner to thatpreviously described. While the particular top connecting memberdescribed herein is described as also serving as an eavesforming member,other members, such as gable members, having channel formations thereon,forming hollow depending rib portions, may be connected with theintermediate columns illustrated in a similar manner to that shown inFig. 8. While any of the columns illustrated may be filled with heatinsulating material, it is particularly desirable to fill the box-likebody portion of a column that is not completely closed, such as thatshown in Fig. 11, with such heat insulating material.

What I claim is:

1. In metallic building structure, a column having a box-likerectangular hollow body portion, said body portion having a pair oflaterally extending wings thereon having inwardly directed marginalflanges substantially the length of said column extending substantiallyperpendicularly to said wings, said column having a pair of flangesthereon extending, substantially the length of said column andsubstantially parallel to said Wings.

2. In metallic building structure, a column hav-' ing a box-likerectangular hollow body portion, said body portion having a pair oflaterally extending wings thereon having marginal flanges extendingsubstantially perpendicularly to said wings, each of said wingsconstituting a portion of the outside wall of said column and saidflanges extending substantially the length of said column and projectinginwardly from said outside wall, and a pair of flanges on said bodyportion extending substantially the length of said column parallel tosaid wings and spacedtherefrom substantially the thickness'of saidhollow body portion.

3. In metallic building structure, a column having verticalwallsproviding a box-like rectangular hollow body portion, said body portion'having top and bottom end walls, said top end wall being depressedbelow the top ends of said vertical walls to provide a groove in the topend of said column. 7

4. In metallic building structure, a column having a box-likerectangular hollow body portion, said body portion having top and bottomend walls, said top end wall being downwardly ofiset to provide a groovetherein spaced from an opposed pair of vertical walls of said box likeportion.

5. In metallic building structure, a columnhaving a box-like rectangularhollow body portion, said body portion having a top end wall and one ofthe vertical walls of said box-like portion extending beyond said topend wall and having an inclined top edge.

6. In metallic building structure, a column having a box-likerectangular hollow body portion, said body portion having a pair ofwalls having flanges thereon extending perpendicularly to said walls andlying adjacent each other and a mem ber angular in cross section havingmarginal hook-like formations thereon slidably engaging said flanges tosecure said walls together.

7. In a metallic building structure, a column comprising an outer memberhaving an' inturned flange at the opposite side edges thereof, a pair ofwalls extending inwardly perpendicularly from said outer member, eachterminating in a flange at its inner end spaced substantially thethickness of the column from a portion of said outer member, and aconnecting member slidably interlocking with said flanges on saidinwardly extending walls to secure said inwardly extending wallstogether.

8. In a metallic building structure, a column comprising an outer memberhaving an inturned flange at the opposite side edges thereof, a pair ofwalls extending inwardly from said outer member a substantial distancebeyond said inturned flanges and in spaced relation thereto and eachterminating in a flange at its inner end, and a connecting memberslidably interlocking with said flanges on said inwardly extending wallsto secure said inwardly extending wallstogether.

9. In a metallic building structure, a corner column comprising an outermember having a right-angular bend substantially midway thereof andhaving an inturned flange at the opposite side edges thereof, a pair ofwalls extending inwardly from said outer member a substantial distancebeyond said inturned flanges and in spaced relation to said inturnedflanges and each end, and means securing said inwardly extending wallstogether at the inner ends thereof.

10. In a metallic building structure, an intermediate column comprisingan outer flat memher having an inturned flange at the opposite sideedges thereof, a pair of walls extending inwardly from said outer membera substantial distance beyond said inturned flanges and in spacedrelation to said inturned flanges and each terminating in an oppositelyprojecting flange at its inner end, and means securing said inwardlyextending walls together at the inner ends thereof.

11. In a metallic building structure, a corner column comprising anouter member having a right-angular bend substantially midway thereofand having an inturned flange at the opposite side edges thereof, a pairof walls extending inwardly from said outer member a substantialdistance beyond said inturned flanges and perpendicularly to each otherin spaced relation to said inturned flanges and terminating in flangesat their inner ends directed away from each other and extendingperpendicularly to each other, and a connecting member angular in crosssection slidably interlocking with said flanges on said inwardlyextending walls to secure said in'- wardly extending walls together.

12. In a metallic building structure, an intermediate column comprisingan outer flat member having an inturned flange at the opposite sideedges thereof, a pair of walls extending inwardly from said outer membera substantial distance beyond said inturned flanges and in spacedrelation to said inturned flanges and in parallelism to each other, saidwalls terminating in flanges directed away from each other, and aconnecting member slidably interlocking with said flanges on saidinwardly extending walls to secure said inwardly extending wallstogether.

13. In a metallic building structure, an intermediate column comprisingan outer flat member having an inturned flange at the opposite sideedges thereof, a pair of walls extending inwardly from said outer membera substantial 45 distance beyond said inturned flanges and in spacedrelation to said inturned flanges and in parallelism to each other, saidwalls terminating in flanges directed away from each other, and

a connecting member having a flat body portion 50 extending between saidparallel walls and having hook-like flanges slidably interlocking withsaid flanges on said inwardly extending walls to secure said inwardlyextending walls together.

14. In a metallic building structure, an inter- 55 mediate columncomprising an outer flat member having an inturned flange at theopposite side edges thereof, a pair of walls extending inwardly fromsaid outer member a substantial distance beyond said inturned flangesand in spaced 0 relation to said inturned flanges and in parallelism toeach other, said walls terminating in flanges directed away from eachother, and a connecting member slidably interlocking with said flangeson said inwardly extending walls to secure said inwardly extending wallstogether, said connecting member having means thereon for mounting apartition on said column.

15. In metallic building structure, a column having a box-likerectangular hollow body portion, said body portion having a pair oflaterally extending wings thereon having marginal flanges extendingsubstantially perpendicularly to said wings, and means mounted on andnested in said body portion for receiving a partition member.

16. In a metallic building structure, an intermediate column comprisingan outer flat member having an inturned flange at the opposite sideedges thereof, a pair of walls extending inwardly from said outer membera substantial distance beyond said inturned flanges and in spacedrelation to said inturned flanges and in parallelism to each other, saidwalls terminating in flanges directed away from each other,-and aconnecting member having a channeled body portion extending between saidparallel walls, means mounted thereon for receiving a partition and saidchanneled body portion having hook-like flanges slidably interlockingwith said flanges on said inwardly extending walls to secure saidinwardly extending walls together.

1'7. In a metallic building structure, an intermediate column having anouter vertical wall, a pair of vertical walls extending perpendicularlyto said outer Wall and having rectangular notches in the top edgesthereof between the ends thereof, and a top wall portion extendingbetween said pair of walls at said notches depressed below the top endsof said vertical walls.

18. In a metallic building structure, an intermediate column having anouter vertical wall, a pair of vertical walls extending perpendicularlyto said outer wall and having rectangular notches in the top edgesthereof between the ends thereof, a top wall portion extending betweensaid pair of Walls at said notches depressed below the top ends of saidvertical walls and a U-shaped keeper extending upwardly from said topwall between said pair of walls.

19. In a metallic building structure, a column having a box-likerectangular hollow body portion having a pair of wings extendinglaterally from a pair of adjacent walls at right angles to each other,said wings having inturned flanges on the ends thereof, and said bodyportion having a pair of flanges extending from the other pair of wallsat their junction in substantial parallelism to said wings.

20. In a metallic building structure, a column having a box-likerectangular hollow body portion having a pair of wings extendinglaterally from the opposite edges of one wall thereof, said wings havinginturned flanges on the ends thereof, and said body portion having apair of flanges extending from the side thereof opposite said wall insubstantial parallelism to said wings.

CARL HENNING.

